It seems this summer has been particularly worse than most summers. I run a swimming pool plumbing company and we recommend doing what is called the bucket test (if you don't want to pay for a leak detector to come out)...put a bucket on the first step (or similar) and fill the bucket with water so that it is at the same level of the pool, the bucket and pool level should decrease at the same rate. If the pool water is noticeably lower than the bucket, we would recommend getting a leak detector to come out. I hope this helps.

If you can figure this out you will get your answer.....The evaporation rate of water from a swimming pool is fairly easy to calculate; given you have access to a psychrometric chart or water vapor tables. W=(A (69.4+30.8 (V)) / Y )(Pw-Pa) W = lb / hr of evaporation. A = surface area of the swimming pool. V = mean wind velocity (mph). Y= Latent heat (approx. 1000). Pw - Sat. Vapor Press at water temp (in Hg). Pa - Sat. Vapor Press at room air temp (in Hg)

In short it depends on a lot of factors. Surface area of the pool, temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. General rule of thumb is up to 1" per day.

If you can figure this out you will get your answer.....The evaporation rate of water from a swimming pool is fairly easy to calculate; given you have access to a psychrometric chart or water vapor tables. W=(A (69.4+30.8 (V)) / Y )(Pw-Pa) W = lb / hr of evaporation. A = surface area of the swimming pool. V = mean wind velocity (mph). Y= Latent heat (approx. 1000). Pw - Sat. Vapor Press at water temp (in Hg). Pa - Sat. Vapor Press at room air temp (in Hg)

In short it depends on a lot of factors. Surface area of the pool, temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. General rule of thumb is up to 1" per day.

if you think you have a leak

try the bucket test. Fill a 5 galllon bucket to the same level as your pool when the bucket is sitting on the step . If the pool water level is lower than your bucket level , you must have a leak in the pool . compare over the next few days. I tell customers 2 to 3"a week normal activity and 3 to 5" for larger pools w/water fall features.

It seems this summer has been particularly worse than most summers. I run a swimming pool plumbing company and we recommend doing what is called the bucket test (if you don't want to pay for a leak detector to come out)...put a bucket on the first step (or similar) and fill the bucket with water so that it is at the same level of the pool, the bucket and pool level should decrease at the same rate. If the pool water is noticeably lower than the bucket, we would recommend getting a leak detector to come out. I hope this helps.

Good info guys! Thanks!
I think of myself as being fairly logical and creative in order to get something done.....and I didn't think about the bucket test.

I have a fiberglass pool and am pretty sure that I have no leaks. I am filling about 3" per week throughout the summer. (24,000 gallon pool)

My son, on the other hand, has a smaller "pool" that appears to have been built by waterfall or pond builders. It looks like it was coated with a waterproofing that may not be doing the job. He is getting frustrated that he can fill 2" every other day....and his pool is in the shade a good portion of the day.
The bucket test sounds like a good idea.

Ours is close to 40K gallons.
Last summer the auto fill could not keep up.
We had a guy sonic test it and he found 2 leaks.
What I did was shut off the auto fill and see where it sort of leveled off at. It was about 18" down or so, the same level as the discharge holes...
He fixed the leaks and all was well.
The leaks were in the PVC piping, 2 separate pipes on the discharge side, not the pool itself. He had to cut the concrete decking and dig to the pipes.
All told it was around $1,200.00 , but without him sonic checking it I have no idea how I would have located them.

Last edited by thatguy; 08-31-2010 at 03:59 AM.

Tommy

Originally Posted by heavy flow

i'm a blind dumb liberal.

Originally Posted by Tom Brown

Obama also possesses extreme intellect.

"So as through a glass, and darkly
The age long strife I see
Where I fought in many guises,
Many names, but always me."

Thanks for the responses. I have a waterfall feature and it runs when the filter pump runs, I have no choice to shut it off or bypass it. I will put a bucket in the pool when I get home today. I filled the pool back to the correct level and then put the hose in the spa and filled it. This morning when I left, I checked the pool and the spa was at least 8 inches below the level it spills into the pool at. I calculated putting about 1,000 gallons in it yesterday(between the spa and the pool.) Hopefully the waterfall feature, and not a leak, is costing me water...

thanks

No man knows the value of a woman's love....until she files for divorce.